Carnation plant named ‘CFPC Annette’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of carnation plant named ‘CFPC Annette’ having large light pink flowers in a spray-type blooming habit.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Dianthuscaryophyllus.

Variety denomination: The new carnation variety denomination is ‘CFPCAnnette’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of hybridcarnation botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and referred to bythe cultivar name ‘CFPC Annette’.

‘CFPC Annette’, identified as selection no. 020614, originated from across made by Roy Stahlhut in a controlled breeding program in Salinas,Calif.

The female parent of the new variety is the unpatented variety known asselection no. 000132 and the male parent is the patented variety knownas ‘CFPC Cupid’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,419). The new variety ‘CFPCAnnette’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative side shoot cuttingsin Salinas, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CFPC Annette’ is a potted spray-type of carnation plant variety havinglarge light pink flowers.

COMPARISON WITH FEMALE PARENT

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Annette’ are similar to thefemale parent selection no. 000132 in plant habit and growth rate, butdiffered from plants of the female parent in at least the followingcharacteristic:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Annette’ produces large pink flowers        while the female parent selection no. 000132 produces large        white flowers.

COMPARISON WITH MALE PARENT

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Annette’ are similar to themale parent ‘CFPC Cupid’ in plant habit and growth rate. In side-by-sidecomparisons in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of thenew carnation variety ‘CFPC Annette’ differed from plants of the maleparent ‘CFPC Cupid’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Annette’ produces large light pink        flowers whereas the male parent ‘CFPC Cupid’ produces large        flowers that are medium to dark pink.    -   2. The new variety ‘CFPC Annette’ produces flowers without        splitting of the calyx while the flowers of the male parent        ‘CFPC Cupid’ tend to split the calyx.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new carnation variety‘CFPC Annette’ are shown in the accompanying photograph. The colorsshown are as true as possible within the usual limits of this kind ofillustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘CFPC Annette’ grown ina pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 119 days from date ofplanting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Annette’ isof plants 119 days from the date of planting growth in a commercialgreenhouse in Salinas, Calif. in the month of December. The cultivar hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment suchas temperature, length of day and light intensity without any variancein genotype.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 28° C.during the day under light conditions of about 12 hours. Plants aredaylight neutral and flower throughout the year. Chemical growthregulators are not required for production.

The new variety may be produced as a potted spray-type carnation. Toproduce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with thecenter bud removed. Pinched plants are about 16.5 cm tall and about 17.8cm in diameter. Flower diameter averages about 5.4 cm with a crown ofabout 1.9 cm. Foliage is generally about 11.4 cm long and about 0.8 cmat the widest point. The typical container size for commercial growth is4½ inches. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new varietyis about 21 days with the first appearance of color in the budsoccurring at about 100-110 days after planting of cuttings. Thecommercial classification of the new carnation variety is a pottedspray-type.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as apotted spray-type. The plant and flower measurements and foliage sizeare established as an average using standard commercial culturalpractices. In the description of this new carnation variety, colorvalues have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart(R.H.S.C.C.).

PLANT

-   Height (cm): 16.5.-   Form: Herbaceous.-   Growing habit: Semi-upright.-   Branching characteristics: 2-4 laterals per stem.-   Breaking action: Very good; 5-6 breaks per plant with strong    straight stems.-   First appearance of color in buds: 100-110 days after planting.-   Vigor: Excellent.-   Shelf life: 21 days.-   Blooming habit: Spray type.-   Blooming season: Year round.-   Lastingness of blooms: About 10 days.-   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): Good resistance to    soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum and F. graminearium,    and root rots such as damping off, water molds and similar types, as    is typical of carnations.-   Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed.-   Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None    observed.-   Mutation prone: No.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Side shoot cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—17 days with soil temperatures of 18° C. to            21° C.        -   Rooting habit.—Good fibrous system.-   Growth treatments or special conditions: None.

FOLIAGE

-   Stem:    -   -   Length (cm).—14.6.        -   Diameter (cm).—Base (cm): 0.5. Apex (cm): 0.3.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Cross section.—Edged.        -   Color.—139D.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 16-18.-   Arrangement of leaves: Bi-lateral along the stem.    -   -   Shape of leaf.—Long, narrow, lanceolate.        -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 0.8. Length (cm): 11.4.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Edge.—Smooth.        -   Surface texture.—Top: smooth. Bottom: smooth.-   Leaf venation: Prominent mid-vein at underside.-   Leaf longitudinal axis: Recurved.-   Leaf cross section (upper side): Concave.-   Leaf color:    -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—137A. Under side: 137B.        -   Young leaf, upper side.—137A. Under side: 137B.-   Leaf waxy layer: Weak.

FLOWER

-   Flower appearance: Matte.-   Flower type: Double.-   Flower profile of upper part of corolla: Convex.-   Flower profile of lower part of corolla: Flat.-   Flower shape: Dome shaped, round.-   Number of blossoms per branch: 10-11.    -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—1.9.        -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—5.4.-   Calyx:    -   -   Sepals number.—5.        -   Length (cm).—0.6.        -   Width (cm).—0.6.        -   Color.—Outer side: tip: 137C base: 138C. Inner side: tip:            138C base: 138D.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.-   Flower petals:    -   -   Form shape.—Fan shaped.        -   Petal edge.—Serrated: Width (mm) <1. Depth (mm): <1. Edge            type: crenate-dentate.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Petal surface of blade.—Flat.        -   Number per flower.—28.        -   Outer petals.—Length (cm): 4.9. Width (cm): 3.0.        -   Inner petals.—Length (cm): 4.1. Width (cm): 2.4.-   Fragrance: None to weak sweet.-   Flower bud (at onset of color):    -   -   Length (cm).—2.5.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.9.        -   Form/shape.—Ovoid.-   Flower color:    -   -   1. General tonality.—Light pink.        -   2. Petals, upper surface.—56C.        -   3. Petals, lower surface.—56D.        -   4. Petals, edge.—56C.        -   5. Petals, center.—56B.        -   6. Early bud.—56C.-   Petal macule (random spots): Absent.-   Flower progression with age: Color remains fairly constant.-   Other distinguishing characteristics: Partially opened bud has a    unique rose-like appearance.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Gynoecium: Pistillate.    -   -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length (cm).—3.1.        -   Pistil color.—Whiter than 155D.        -   Stigma number.—Only 2.        -   Stigma color.—Very pale pink.        -   Stigma shape.—Filamentous.        -   Style color.—Whiter than 155D.        -   Style number.—Only 2.-   Ovary:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Base: 155D. Body: 144A. Apex: 144A.-   Androecium: None produced.-   Fruit and seeds: None produced.

1. A new and distinct variety of carnation plant, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.